Cigarette package or the like



March 3, 1964 G. A. GERBER CIGARETTE PACKAGE OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1961 INVENTOR.

GARY A. GERBER ATTORNEY March 3, 1964 G. A. GERBER CIGARETTE PACKAGE OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1961 INVENTOR. GARY A. GERBER BY v 44a 7 ATTORNEY March 3, 1964 G. A. GERBER CIGARETTE PACKAGE OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 22, 1961 INVENTOR. GARY A. GERBER BY A ww m y ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofltice 3,123,2h Patented Mar. 3, 1964 3,123,296 CEGARETTE PACKAGE UR THE LlKE Gary A. Gerber, Silver Spring, Md. (726 Huntington Road, Bridgeport 10, Count) Filed Aug. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 133,183 2' (Claims. (ill. 206-41) The present invention relates to a self closing package, and more particularly to a self closing package for cigarettes or the like.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a cigarette package which is adapted to be made from plastic material and wherein the completed article or package is crush-proof, water and air-tight, self closing, and wherein the package of the present invention permits embossing to be readily incorporated into the package shell.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method or process of fabricating or formulating a cigarette' package or the like as well as a novel package whichis especially suitable for holding a quantity of articles such as cigarettes therein, the package including diametrically opposed ribs or shoulders which serve to temporarily restrain or constrain the two side columns of cigarettes to permit easy removal of the center column of cigarettes.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a structure of this type in a simple, inexpensive form adapted to be rapidly manufactured on a production basis, and wherein the package of the present invention is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view'of the cigarette package or the like constructed according to the present invention.

KG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view with the mouth or opening in closed position.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the mouth in open position.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6a is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the mouth open and illustrating the removal of a cigarette from the package, and showing how the diametrically opposed shoulders restrain the outer columns of cigarettes while permitting a ready or convenient removal of the center column of cigarettes. I

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the package being used, and showing how the shoulders help restrain the cigarettes which are not being removed.

PEG. 8 is a perspective view, illustrating the removal of a cigarette from the package of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an initial step in fabricating or manufacturing the package and showing the device ready to have cigarettes packed therein at the factory.

FIG. 10 is a view similiar to FIG. 9 but with the cigarettes in place, and showing the device partially filled, FIG. 9 being a view with parts broken away and in section.

FIG. ll is a perspeot've view showing the device partially folded and showing in dotted lines where the edges are adapted to be trimmed off and also illustrating a tapeto permit sealing an opening of the completed package.

FIG; 12 is end elevatiorlal view, with parts broken away and in section, illustrating a modification wherein the shoulders or beads or lips are omitted.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularlytoFIGS 1 through 11 of the drawings", the numeral 2*? indicates a package made according to the present invention, and the package 2%) is especially suitable as a cigarette package and is adapted to be made of a single piece of suitable plastic material, and the package 20 includes a horizontally disposed flat bottom portion 21 as well as spaced parallel vertically disposed front and back portions' 2 2, and the package 2% further includes spaced parallel vertically disposed side portions 23.

As shown in FIG. 6 for example the package also includes a top portion 2'4 that embodies inclined sections or portions 25, and there is provided horizontally disposed inwardly projecting diametrically opposed ribs or beads which define or provide shoulders as adjacent the upper ends of the front and back portions 22 for a purpose to be later described. The numeral 27 indicates flanges which are formed at the upper inner edge portions for the inclined sections 25, and the flanges 2 7 are mounted for movement toward and away from each other and wherein the numeral 2-8 indicates anopening or mouth which can be used for selectively dispensing cigarettes such as the cigarettes 2h therethrough. In the drawings 29" indicates the cigarettesin the center column of cigarettes, while the numerals I 29'" indicate the two outer side columns of cigarettes arranged in the usual manner in a cigarette package. The shoulders 2'6 serve totemporarily restrain or constrainthe outerside columns of cigarettes'29 while permitting'the convenient removal of the center column of cigarettes 29 as for example when finger pressure is applied to the sides 23 adjacent the upper portionof the package to cause the opening- .2 8 to expand topermit convenient removal of the cigarettes there'thnough.

In FIG. 2' for example the numeral 30 indicates the fiange'p'ortions which are adhesively bonded or otherwise permanently afiixed together at-the sides of'the package.

Attention is now direct-ed to FIGS. 9, 10" and 11 of the drawings, wherein the numeral 31 illustrates a sheet of plastic material that has'b'ee'n partially formed or molded to include the shoulders or ribs 26 as well as to include recessed chambers or sections or cavities 32 which are separated and joined by a partition or divider 33, and the numeral 34 indicates a oontinuous'flange portion, and the flange portion 34 is arranged around the outer edge member of the member 31, and FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate successi'p'e steps in vfabricating and filling and making the completed filled cigarette package. FIG. 10 shows a member of FIG. 9 filled with cigarettes such as the cigarettes 29, and FIG. 11 show the method of bringing or folding the sections 32 together by folding these sections along a line extending through the divider 33, and in FIG. 11 the dottedlinesindicated by' the numeral 35 indicate the trim: lines and when the sections have been brought together after completion of filling, the adjacent flangeportions are adapted to be suitably bonded together in any suitable manner as for example by means of a suitable adhesive, heat sealing, ultrasonic bonding or the like. In FIG. 11 the numeral 36 indicates a pull tape or tear strip which can be positioned in place to permit con venient removal thereof when the cigarette package is to be opened.

Referring now to FIG. 12 of the drawings; there is illustratedamodified cigarette package which is indicated generally by the numeral 2%), and the cigarette package 20' has the same general construction and method of making as described in connection wit-h the previously described package Ztl', but the pack-age 20 of FIG. 12 is characterized by the absence of the shoulders or ribs 26.

From the foregoing, itis apparent that there has been provided a package which is especially suitable for use as a cigarette container or package, and wherein the pack age is adapted to be made of a suitable plastic and in use the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that with the package filled with cigarettes such as the cigarettes 29, when it is desired to dispense or remove a cigarette from the package, it is only necessary to apply finger pressure to the side of the package adjacent the upper end portion thereof as, for example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 whereby when such finger pres ure is applied, the mouth 28 will open or expand so as to permit convenient removal of a cigarette through the mouth 28. The cigarette package contains three rows or columns of cigarettes, that is when the package is filled it is provided with the two outer columns 29" as well as the center column 29', and initially when the package is opened, the centermost cigarettes 29' are adapted to be first removed, as for example as shown in FIG. 6a, and due to the provision of the shoulders 26, the outer columns of cigarettes 29" will be restrained while the center cigarettes 29' is being removed. Thus, the shoulders 26 help insure that the cigarettes will be maintained in their proper position until they are to be removed.

The package is shaped to include a flat bottom 21 which is advantageous for several reasons, and for example it permits the package to be supported on a table or the like, in an upright position due to the absence of projections or flanges on the bottom portion 21. The top portion 24 is shaped to include the inclined sections 25 which serve to insure that the mouth 28 will be of the proper size or clearance to permit convenient ejection or removal of the cigarettes therethrough. Also, the upper edges of the inclined sections 25 terminate or merge into the flanges 27, and when manual pressure is released on the sides of the package, the flanges 27 are in juxtaposition so as to automatically close oif the interior of the package in order to help retain the contents of the package in a fresh protected state.

It will be seen that according to the present invention there has been provided a cigarette package which embodies a new packaging concept and wherein a suitable material such as modified polystyrene sheet plastic may be utilized, and wherein the package may be fabricated in a suitable manner as for example by means of vacuum forming of the plastic. The cigarette pack is constructed so that it is substantially crush-proof, water and air-tight, self closing, economical and which permits incorporation of embossing into the package shell, and wherein the cigarettes can be maintained in a fresh condition. The air-tight, waterproof pack eliminates the need for an aluminum foil liner, a graphic sleeve, and a cellulose overwrap so that an economy of materials results as compared to the usual method of packaging cigarettes. Also, the packaging material set forth herein permits fine embossing of letters and shapes so that improved advertising arrangements are available. The package may be provided with a suitable tear tape, and when the package is to be opened the tape can be removed, and such a tape is illustrated in FIG. 11 and indicated by the numeral 36. With the tape removed, it is only necessary to apply pressure lightly on the sides and this permits easy removal of the cigarettes, and when the pressure is released the pack will return to its closed position.

The top portion of the package is constructed so as to permit the package to open with a pleasing elliptical shape and in order to prevent any flat surfaces where strain may develop. The bottom of the pack is generally smooth or fiat as to meet the limitations imposed by tax stamping equipment and vending machines, and as shown in FIG. 9 the member 31 can be molded or formed by forming the two half shells simultaneously in a female mold, and this will also facilitate the forming and filling of the packages. By utilizing a plastic such as styrene, tax stamp ink now in use will take very readily thereto so as to give an excellent print. While the present invention has been described specifically for use as a cigarette package, it is to be understood that it can be used for holding other suitable articles or materials as desired or required, so that the present invention is not limited to use as a cigarette package. The package constructed according to the present invention is more economical to produce than present cigarette containers. The molded ribs or shoulders 26 function to withhold side columns of cigarettes, so that the two side columns of cigarettes are restrained in order to permit easy removal of the centermost cigarettes. The containers or packages are adapted to be vacuum formed from fiat sheet by using female molds, and the number of packages being molded at one time is only limited by the size of the sheet. FIG. 11 illustrates the position of the parts before the sections are brought together and suitably bonded to form the completed package with the cigarettes therein. Since the package is moisture-proof, cigarettes therein will not get ruined in the rain, or if the package is accidentally dropped in water, and in addition the contents will have a longer shelf life due to the moisture-proof arrangement of the package. If desired a small snap may be molded into the package at the top thereof to help keep it more securely fastened, or closed. The shoulders facilitate withdrawal of the cigarettes in an orderly fashion and also help retain the remaining cigarettes in their proper position. Since the package is self closing, loose tobacco or the like will not collect in pockets of garments in which the package is being carried. The plastic materials may be made slow burning, that is they may have a composition which is slow burning or self extinguishing in the event that they are inadvertently or accidentally ignited so that they will not have a tendency to burn as rapidly as the cellophane presently used in cigarette packages whereby a safety factor is possible which is a further advantage of the present invention. Heretofore packages have been made from two sections which are independent and which are subsequently fastened together, but with the present invention the package is molded from a single piece of material as for example as shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. The completed packages 2% or 20' are constructed so that they will readily stack together in cartons or the like, and the packages are of a size and shape to receive the standard number of cigarettes therein. By molding packages from a single sheet or piece of material, the cost and work involved in fabricating the cigarette packages is greatly simplified as compared to previous methods of making cigarette packages or the like, since with the present invention after a member such as the member 31 is formed, it is then filled with cigarettes and folded on itself along the line 33 and then the sections are suitably bonded together along the surfaces 34, and this method of molding is such that there will be a saving of labor and material.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A cigarette package made of yieldable plastic material and shaped to include a flat bottom portion for receiving a tax seal thereon, said package initially having three aligned rows of cigarettes therein, said package in cluding upstanding side portions and spaced parallel front and back portions, and a top portion having a normally closed spreadable opening therein, and said top portion including inclined sections, and inwardly directed beads. providing shoulders that are arranged contiguous to the junction of the inclined sections with the front and back portions, said shoulders being straight and said shoulders: being arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to each other, said shoulders engaging upper end portions. of the cigarettes in the outermost rows of cigarettes in the package.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a package containing cigarettes wherein the cigarettes are initially arranged in three parallel aligned rows within the package, said.

package being fabricated solely of a single piece of thin flexible plastic material and shaped to include a horizontally disposed flat bottom portion, spaced parallel front and back portions, spaced parallel vertically disposed side portions, and a top portion that includes inclined sections having a normally closed spreadable opening therebetween, horizontally disposed spaced parallel inwardly projecting diametrically opposed beads providing shoulders that are arranged on the inner surface of the front and back portions, and said shoulders being arranged adjacent the upper ends of the front and back portions, and said shoulders initially engaging upper end portions of the cigarettes in the outermost rows, said shoulders being straight and said shoulders extending completely across the front and back portions from one side portion to the other side portion, and said inclined sections terminating in upstanding flanges which are mounted for movement toward and away from each other, the distance from the 6 bottom portion to the shoulders being approximately equal to the length of the cigarettes in the package.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 496,610 Hurlbut May 2, 1893 1,671,385 Strayer May 29, 1928 2,116,041 Regan May 3, 1938 2,667,906 Stiller Feb. 2, 1954 2,754,865 Moore July 17, 1956 2,845,104 Frankel July 29, 1958 2,915,214 Frankel Dec. 1, 1959 3,001,564 Hopkins Sept. 26, 1961 3,053,023 Watts Sept. 11, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 358,297 Great Britain Oct. 8, 1931 598,113 Germany June 7, 1934 

2. AS A NEW ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE, A PACKAGE CONTAINING CIGARETTES WHEREIN THE CIGARETTES ARE INITIALLY ARRANGED IN THREE PARALLEL ALIGNED ROWS WITHIN THE PACKAGE, SAID PACKAGE BEING FABICATED SOLELY OF A SINGLE PIECE OF THIN FLEXIBLE PLASTIC MATERIAL AND SHAPED TO INCLUDE A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED FLAT BOTTOM PORTION, SPACED PARALLEL FRONT AND BACK PORTIONS, SPACED PARALLEL VERTICALLY DISPOSED SIDE PORTIONS, AND A TOP PORTION THAT INCLUDES INCLINED SECTIONS HAVING A NORMALLY CLOSED SPREADABLE OPENING THEREBETWEEN, HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SPACED PARALLEL INWARDLY PROJECTING DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED BEADS PROVIDING SHOULDERS THAT ARE ARRANGED ON THE INNER SURFACE OF THE FRONT AND BACK PORTIONS, AND SAID SHOULDERS BEING ARRANGED ADJACENT THE UPPER ENDS OF THE FRONT AND BACK PORTIONS, AND SAID SHOULDERS INITIALLY ENGAGING UPPER END PORTIONS OF THE CIGARETTES IN THE OUTERMOST ROWS, SAID SHOULDERS BEING STRAIGHT AND SAID SHOULDERS EXTENDING COMPLETELY ACROSS THE FRONT AND BACK PORTIONS FROM ONE SIDE PORTION TO THE OTHER SIDE PORTION, AND SAID INCLINED SECTIONS TERMINATING IN UPSTANDING FLANGES WHICH ARE MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, THE DISTANCE FROM THE BOTTOM PORTION TO THE SHOULDERS BEING APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE LENGTH OF THE CIGARETTES IN THE PACKAGE. 